Hong Kong fire: At least 13 dead as more than 700 firefighters tackle blaze

Koey Lee
BBC News Chinese, Hong Kong

Image source, Reuters

Tai Po District Councillor Mui Siu-fung tells BBC Chinese that Wang Fuk Court, the housing estate involved in the incident, comprises eight blocks – all currently undergoing major repairs. Seven of these blocks were affected by the fire, with external scaffolding severely damaged.

“The block where the fire first started – you could see flames inside through the windows,” he says. The remaining block did not catch fire, though Mui noted it initially had a small blaze “but firefighters immediately put it out from below, so that block didn’t burn”.

He adds that firefighters are currently unable to enter the buildings safely to carry out search and rescue operations.

Mui said that around 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT), residents began evacuating gradually: “I think about 95% of the residents have already been evacuated, and three nearby public housing blocks have also been cleared.”

He notes that at one evacuation point near the fire scene – the Kwong Fuk Shopping Centre – there were roughly over a thousand residents.

The Home Affairs Department has since opened several community centres as temporary shelters, with some schools also made available for relocation.